Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

A sport of Panorama differing therefrom by its dark yellow ray floret color.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Camino Gold (#70309V24).

Camino Gold is a product of a planned sport induction program which had the objective of expanding the color range of the parental cultivar, Camino Pink (#70309024), disclosed in our U.S. Plant patent application filed Nov. 5, 1976, Ser. No. 739,127.

Camino Gold was discovered and selected by William E. Duffett and Walter H. Jessel, Jr. on Sept. 12, 1975 as one plant within a flowering block of an orange bronze spontaneous mutant (#70309F24) of Camino Pink in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio. Plants within the flowering block were derived from stock plants which had been irradiated as rooted cuttings with an x-ray source of 2600 r units.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Camino Gold was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February, 1976 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio by a technician working under formulations established and supervised by Walter H. Jessel, Jr. and William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated May 4, 1976 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Camino Gold are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Camino Gold has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown in Barberton, Ohio under greenhouse environmental conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial practice, as described in Chart A which appears at the end of the present specification. A light intensity chart of general use is shown in ASHAE Trans., Vol. 64, page 64, and reference is made thereto.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Camino Gold which in combination distinguish this chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Dark yellow ray floret color with minimal color oxidation.

4. Uniform 9 week flowering response to photoperiodic short day control.

5. Medium plant height (requires 3-4 long day weeks as a single stem plant prior to short days to attain a total height as a flowering plant of 72 to 82 cm. during the flowering period October through May).

6. Diameter across face of capitulum from 55 to 80 mm. at maturity.

7. Semi-upright branching pattern.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical inflorescence and foliage characteristics of Camino Gold. Color representations are as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to Camino Gold is the parental cultivar, Camino Pink. Reference is made to attached Chart B which compares certain characteristics of Camino Pink with the same characteristics of Camino Gold. As noted in Chart B, the primary distinguishing characteristic of Camino Gold in comparison to Camino Pink is that of ray floret color. All other characteristics of Camino Gold are similar to those same characteristics of Camino Pink.

In the following description, color references are made to The Munsell Limit Color Cascade, 1972 edition. The color values were determined between 4:30 and 5:00 P.M. on Jan. 6, 1977 under 120 foot-candle light intensity at Barberton, Ohio.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Camino Gold.

INFLORESCENCE

Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--55 to 80 mm.

Corolla of ray florets:

Color (abaxial).--25-6 to 25-5.

Color (adaxial).--25-5 to 23-2.

Corolla of disc florets:

Color (immature).--24-16 to 24-11.

Color (mature).--24-12 to 26-9.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

General appearance: semi-upright branching pattern; medium height.

Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--19-15 to 21-15.

Color (adaxial).--21-15 to 21-14.

                                      CHART A                                      __________________________________________________________________________     AVERAGE GREENHOUSE CHRYSANTHEMUM ENVIRONMENTS                                  USED FOR BARBERTON, OHIO                                                              TEMPERATURES USED                                                                   Bright                                                                              Cloudy                                                                              LIGHTING BLACK CLOTH                                                                              SUPP                                  SEASON Night                                                                               Day  Day  USED     USED      CO.sub.2                              __________________________________________________________________________     FALL   65° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        60° F                                                                        2 to 4 weeks                                                                            To Sept. 15                                                                              From                                         to   to   to   at 3 Hours Per                                                                          on - 5:30 PM                                                                             Oct. 15                                      56° F                                                                        80° F                                                                        75° F                                                                        of 7-10 f.c.                                             WINTER 58° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        60° F                                                                        2 to 5 weeks                                                                            NONE      300 ppm                                      to   to   to   at 5 hours Per                                                  62° F                                                                        70° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        Night                                                                          of 7-10 f.c.                                             SPRING 58° F                                                                        65° F                                                                        60° F                                                                        2 to 4 weeks                                                                            From Mar. 15                                                                             To                                           to   to   to   at 5 Hours Per                                                                          on - 5:30 PM                                                                             Apr. 15                                      65° F                                                                        80° F                                                                        75° F                                                                        Night    Off-7:30 AM                                                                              300 ppm                                                     of 7-10 f.c.                                             SUMMER 62° F                                                                        70°  F                                                                       65° F                                                                        1 to 2 weeks                                                    to   to   to   at 3 Hours Per                                                                          on-6:00 PM                                             68° F                                                                        90° F                                                                        75° F                                                                        Night    Off-8:00 AM                                                           of 7-10 f.c.                                             __________________________________________________________________________

                                      CHART B                                      __________________________________________________________________________     COMPARISON OF GOLDARAMA AND PANORAMA                                                              DIAMETER ACROSS             FLOWERING                                                                              CAPITULUM                         RAY FLORET                                                                              FACE OF      PLANT BRANCHING                                                                               RESPONSE                                                                               FORM AND                CULTIVAR  COLOR    CAPITULUM    HEIGHT                                                                               PATTERN  PERIOD  TYPE                    __________________________________________________________________________     CAMINO GOLD                                                                              Dark     55 to 80 mm. Medium                                                                               Semi-    9 week  Flat                              Yellow                      upright          Daisy                   CAMINO PINK                                                                              Lavender 60 to 80 mm. Medium                                                                               Semi-    9 week  Flat                              Pink                        upright          Daisy                   __________________________________________________________________________      COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN IN A GREENHOUSE IN BARBERTON, OHIO UNDER      ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AS DESCRIBED IN CHART A.                         

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat, known by the cultivar name Camino Gold and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form, daisy capitulum type, dark yellow ray floret color with minimal color oxidation, uniform 9 week flowering response to photoperiodic shortday control, medium plant height, diameter across face of capitulum from 55 to 80 mm. at maturity, and semi-upright branching pattern. 